Are the silver ends on ribbon connecting cables silver?

I have been taking apart computers and other electronics for quite a few years, and I've saved the silver ends from ribbon cables. Such as the flat white ribbon cables that connect the laser unit to the board in dvd's etc., and sometimes the same type found in printers.
Are these ends silver?
Also, what chemical do I need to test for silver?
Thanks in advance.

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Originally Posted by tefanisman13

I have been taking apart computers and other electronics for quite a few years, and I've saved the silver ends from ribbon cables. Such as the flat white ribbon cables that connect the laser unit to the board in dvd's etc., and sometimes the same type found in printers.
Are these ends silver?
Also, what chemical do I need to test for silver?
Thanks in advance.

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Before you kill yourself with some odd mixture of chemicals you might want to read up on some of the old posts, this has been covered many times. But here is a good starting point. http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/showt...ght=cable+ends

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tefanisman13

I have been taking apart computers and other electronics for quite a few years, and I've saved the silver ends from ribbon cables. Such as the flat white ribbon cables that connect the laser unit to the board in dvd's etc., and sometimes the same type found in printers.
Are these ends silver?
Also, what chemical do I need to test for silver?
Thanks in advance.

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It is tin.
Here is Greenpeace approved test. Take what you want to test and rub it on sheet of white paper. If you will see gray streak it is tin.

I decided to chemically test the ends of a ribbon I got out of a printer. Here are the results:

http://s7.postimg.org/ozu95j5u3/Good_Silver.jpg

You can see the hydrochloric acid reacting strongly with the metal.

http://s2.postimg.org/6rzxrfull/Good_Copper.jpg

And here you can clearly see the copper metal revealed. The copper is plated, possibly with silver (likely something else), but because the acid removed it so quickly it would be very, very thin (no realistic amount would be possible for silver recovery).

Sorry for the thread necromancy, but I had this same question myself and wanted to share my results.

thread necromancy! Cool!

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Originally Posted by cptroses

I decided to chemically test the ends of a ribbon I got out of a printer. Here are the results:

http://s7.postimg.org/ozu95j5u3/Good_Silver.jpg

You can see the hydrochloric acid reacting strongly with the metal.

http://s2.postimg.org/6rzxrfull/Good_Copper.jpg

And here you can clearly see the copper metal revealed. The copper is plated, possibly with silver (likely something else), but because the acid removed it so quickly it would be very, very thin (no realistic amount would be possible for silver recovery).

Sorry for the thread necromancy, but I had this same question myself and wanted to share my results.

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Hydrocloric acid does not dissolve silver, the plating is most likely tin and not silver. There is only one acid that puts silver into solution but you have to read about that on another forumo:)

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Originally Posted by BRASSCATCHER

Hydrocloric acid does not dissolve silver, the plating is most likely tin and not silver. There is only one acid that puts silver into solution but you have to read about that on another forumo:)

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I guess maybe that'll put it back to rest eh ; )

R.I.P.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BRASSCATCHER

Hydrocloric acid does not dissolve silver, the plating is most likely tin and not silver. There is only one acid that puts silver into solution but you have to read about that on another forumo:)

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You are correct, hydrochloric acid does not dissolve silver, nitric acid will. However, if the silver is thin plate (or an alloy) it can reveal the metal beneath it as the other metal dissolves. That's why we use hydrochloric to test silver.

A solid chunk of pure silver won't react.

Yes you are corrrect in how to test for silver, but these discussions are frowned upon on this forum for good reason. The use of any acid to test or refining should not be done on a whim, unless someone is willing to study and learn proper techniques as well as investing a decent amount of money into safety equiptment
If one wants to test for precious metals a cheap test kit can be purchased on feebay or Amazon. Beyond that, use google, wikipedia or get in touch with a refiner to get your answers. Your life is worth more than any metal!

I love my precious metals detection chemicals. I like to play scientist sometimes.